Concept explainers
Macroevolution refers to evolutionary changes that
- occur in multicellular organisms.
- produce new species and groups of species.
- occur over long periods of time.
- cause changes in allele frequencies.
- occur in large mammals.
Introduction:
Microevolution is the change in allele frequencies within a population over time. Microevolution is a result of mutations, natural selection, gene flow and genetic drift. In microevolution small differences in population occur compared to macroevolution. Microevolution over long period of time leads to speciation which is described under macroevolution.
Answer to Problem 1TY
The correct answersisoption (b) produce new species and groups of species and option
Explanation of Solution
Explanation/justification for the correct answer:
Option (b) − Macroevolution is the large-scale evolution which occurs at the level of species and above. It describes the differences between two closely related species; for instance, western meadowlark and eastern meadowlark birds. They are two different species even though the morphological characteristics are similar. They cannot mate due to reproductive isolation. Microevolution also describes that the all life forms are from a single origin. So, option (b) is the correct answer.
Explanation for incorrect answer:
Option (a) − Macroevolution is usually defined as the innovation of morphological innovations in multicellular organisms. But there are some microbial experimental evidences of macroevolution in unicellular level.
Option (c) − the changes observed in macroevolution occurs over long time period. The changes happen in microevolution occurs over a short period of time relatively to the changes occur in macroevolution in evolutionary wise. So option (c) is incorrect.
Option (d) causes changes in allele frequencies. Genetic information gets altered or rearranged in microevolution, not macroevolution. Alteration of genetic information leads to changes in allele frequencies. The microevolution occurs over a short time scale. The changes occur in genetic level causes the phenotypic changes which are naturally selected overtime. So, microevolution often lead to macroevolution. Option (d) is incorrect.
Option (e) occurs in large mammals. This option is incorrect as macroevolution can be taken place in almost every kind of population. Birds, fish, reptiles, bacteria etc.
Macroevolution refers to evolutionary changes that produce new species and group of species. So, option (b) is correct.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 20 Solutions
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY W/CONNECT
- Which of the following would be the best measure of an organism’s evolutionary fitness? Lifespan Number of offspring Number of siblings Physical strengtharrow_forwardWhich is an example of an evolutionary adaptation? Group of answer choices constancy in the rate of accumulation of genetic changes in a molecule over time the loss of an allele in a population due to a population bottleneck fixation in a population of a selectively advantageous allele a change in frequency of a neutral allele by genetic driftarrow_forwardWhich of the following is the best definition of a major transition in evolution? Individuals evolve traits the help them fight off rivals Formerly independent replicating individuals form a collective that reproduces together A group of individuals evolve traits that help them individually forage better Individuals evolve traits that allow them to colonize a new environment.arrow_forward
- Assume you are studying secondary contact in two species of birds. You notice that hybrids are produced and that much of the DNA of each species is becoming more similar over time. The likely end point of this process is which of the following? Fusion Evolution of reproductive isolation Reinforcement Stable and minimal hybrid productionarrow_forwardWhat name is used to describe a species that exhibits the ancestral state for every trait observed? options: outgroup ingroup sister species homologous speciesarrow_forwardPlease provide abd explain four example of hybrid zone in animals . How large is the area of hybridization. What prezygotic isolating mechanism prevent the species from interbreeding outside the hybrid zone. is the frequency of hybrid matings increasing or decreasing through time.arrow_forward
- How can a shift in the proportion of genes in a population could lead to the evolution of a new species? Explain why evolution happens to a whole population rather than to a single individual.arrow_forwardThe evolution of one species into two or more species as a result of different populations becoming reproductively isolated from each other is best termed as adaptive radiation. True or False.arrow_forwardBriefly discuss the differences in how a selectionist (one that believes that Natural Selection is a strong evolutionary force) and a neutralist (one that believes that genetic drift is a strong evolutionary force) views the following: molecular clock, evolution of coding sequences, evolution of "pseudogenes".arrow_forward
- Use each of the following species concepts to write a claim about whether the dark and light fur mice are, in fact, different species. Your claim should demonstrate your understanding of that particular species concept. Mice with light coat colors are found in populations scattered across the southeastern US. Researchers believe the light coat color emerged in a single population. How would a biologist explain the evolution of the light coat color in populations across the southeastern US? Briefly explain your reasoning.arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements about the DNA of two species is TRUE? The more similar the DNA, the more distant the common ancestor is likely to be. The more similar the DNA, the more recent the common ancestor is likely to be. The more different the DNA, the more likely it is that their common ancestor is extinct. You cannot conclude anything about common ancestry using DNA evidence.arrow_forwardAncestral state reconstruction allows evolutionary biologists to answer which of the following questions? The likelihood of speciation events for species on the tree. The evolutionary transition rates between different trait combinations. The evolutionary age of multiple species with the same trait. The evolutionary trajectory of extinct species.arrow_forward
- Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning